Let all that I am praise the Lord;with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.Let all that I am praise the Lord;may I never forget the good things he does for me.He forgives all my sinsand heals all my diseases.He redeems me from deathand crowns me with love and tender mercies.He fills my life with good things.My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

Psalm 103:1-5

Today's Thoughts:

Gratitude is powerful. Gratitude toward God can literally alter an entire outlook on life. How do I know? Almost 7 years ago, God blessed us with two babies in 14 months. It was a rough season for me emotionally, and I sunk down into a deep post partum depression.

One day a friend told me about the book "Choosing Gratitude" by Nancy Lee Demoss, and I vowed, through my sleepy eyes, to read it. After reading, I began a "Thankful Tuesday" on the blog, where I listed everything I could possibly think of thank God for, and over time, the act of choosing gratitude revolutionized my life. God used gratitude as a tool to pull my heart out of a pit of despair.

The verses above list several reasons we are able to have a thankful heart towards God and remind us "never to forget the good things He has done for us." God blesses us undeservingly with salvation, forgiving us of our past, present, and future sins. He is the healer, not only has He healed me emotionally, but He has the power to completely heal Adam after this radiation and we pray He does. He has given us everlasting life in a place of no more sadness. He graciously pours into our hearts His love and compassion and gives us strength to live out this life for Him.

He has filled our lives with countless wonderful blessings including our four children who generate tremendous joy in our lives.

So, I just wanted to pause today, just to tell Him "Thank You."

And as Nancy Lee DeMoss says, "Perhaps it's hard for you to find much to be thankful for today. Perhaps all you can see is what's wrong, what hurts, and what others are doing to you. Try to look above your circumstances, beyond your fears, and ask our gracious God to show you what He is doing in the midst of them.

No one expects you to be superhuman. And certainly no one should ever make you feel as though gaining victory over hardship requires acting like they don't exist, as if refusing to speak about them or make reference to them will cut off their blood supply. The losses, failures, and injustices done against you are real. They are not dependent on your acknowledgement of them in order to breathe and attack. But just as certainly, they are no match for the greater plans and purposes of God. And when God is given room to work His will within you, He can be the one who puts the "supernatural" into your response and reactions.

That's why, no matter who you are, where you have been, or what has happened to you along the way, you can be changed into a person who is known and marked by gratitude. God can do it in you."

What can you thank Him for today?

Today's Prayer:

Dear Jesus, as we have prayed before on this journey, thank you for your gift of salvation, the most precious gift of all. You are all satisfying, and you are enough for us Jesus. Thank you for your presence in our lives. Thank you also for continually forgiving us, for healing us, and for your endless undeserved love. I am reminded that you are a God of compassion and I thank you that no matter what we are going through, you are with us and you care so deeply for us. Thank you for strength when we have none of ourselves. We love you Lord. Amen.